Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: a simplified classification scheme.

1,292 cases of malignant Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were classified according to the Rappaport and Kiel classifications and to the New Working Formulation for Clinical Usage (NWF). Subsequently, all lymphoma entities were grouped together following the simple criteria of cell size and growth pattern (small cell, large cell, and mixed cellularity; nodular and diffuse growth). Supplementing these morphological criteria, were data from immunological and cytochemical cell marker studies. The accumulated information was correlated to clinical-prognostic parameters. The results show that using above simplified criteria, all Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can be classified according to a simple scheme which is of clinical relevance. It can further be deduced from all currently used lymphoma classifications, avoids confusion, and offers abbreviated data useful for computer storage.